Noah could have listened to the taunts and harassment, but he kept his ear tuned to God. That's always the challenge, isn't it? Listen to God or listen to people. Hearing God means you'll probably be swimming against the tide. You'll be tempted to let the tide of popular opinion carry you out to sea.

"Mary had a lot of patience going around and trying to find a place to give birth," says Sean, 11.

Think of Mary's patience when trying to explain to Joseph that she was pregnant but still a virgin. Until an angel explained things to Joseph, he doubted her.

My favorite account is the wedding feast where Mary told Jesus their hosts had run out of wine. His response was extraordinary: "Woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come" (John 2:4). Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to the time of his crucifixion as his "hour."

At the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus lifted a cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood" (I Corinthians 11:25).

When Mary told Jesus of the wine shortage, perhaps Jesus made the symbolic connection with his crucifixion, which would establish the new covenant. In any event, her instructions to the servants were remarkable: "Whatever he says to you, do it."

The struggle for patience surrounds the birth of another baby, says Christen: "I think Abraham and Sarah had a lot of patience because Sarah wanted a baby. Abraham asked God, but they had to wait awhile."

The Lord promised Abram descendants as numerous as the stars. Later, God changed his name to Abraham, which means father of many. At the time, he wasn't father of any. The Scripture records that he believed in the Lord, and the Lord credited it to him for righteousness.

Before the birth of Isaac, Sarah and Abraham came up with a plan to help God keep his promise. Sarah asked her maidservant to visit Abraham's tent, and the result was the birth of Ishmael. Trouble always follows when we try to help God instead of patiently waiting for him to work (Genesis 16 and 17).

The Bible character most known for patience is Job, says Kristen, 7: "He had to wait for his sores to go away."

Job's entire world collapsed. He lost his family, property and health. One family member survived. His nagging wife urged him to curse God and die.

Job was clueless. He didn't know that Satan had challenged his integrity in the court of heaven. Job's response to his sufferings stands as a memorial to his patient trust in the Lord: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

Incredible!

Think about this: Job's patience is legendary, but there is someone who surpasses him, says Ally, 12: "Jesus died a hard, slow death for us. He is always patient, waiting for us to turn to Him."

Memorize this truth: "But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:4).

Ask this question: How is God working in your life to increase your patience?

Listen to a talking book, download the "Kids Color Me Bible" for free, watch Kid TV Interviews and travel around the world by viewing the "Mission Explorers Streaming Video" at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version. To find out more about Carey Kinsolving and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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